Combination air brake and gas saver



June 24 l924. 1,498,85$

- K. WEKERLE COMBINATION AIR BRAKE AND GAS SAVER Filed Dec. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J NE June 24; 1924. 1,498,859

K. WEKERLE v COMBINATION AIR BRAKE AND GAS SAVER Filed Deb. 4. 1920 2 Sheets-Sho e '2 i WEKERLE, OF Wfi'l HOBO XEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO TEODORE s'rnonm-mt, wnsr-nnw yonx, JERSEY.

comma'rron Am BRAKE em) ease seven.

' Application filed December a, 1920. Serial ro. 428,408.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL WEKERLE, a citizen of Czechoslovakia, residing in West Hoboken, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combination Air Brake and Gas Saver, of which the following is a specification. W p

This invention relates to an improved air brake and gas saving apparatus adapted for use upon motor vehicles, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is exceedingly simple in construction, effectiveness for the purposes intended.

Another object of the invention is to produce a gas saving device for the motor of motor vehicles, which may also be operated in such a manner thatthe engine may be efiectively used as a brake for the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide ap aratus of vthe above character, which may he conveniently operated in position at the dash of the car.

' Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a preferred form of embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a side view of apparatus.

Figure 2 thereof. I I I Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken throu h the part that is adapted to be attache to the manifold of the gas engine.

Figure a is a vertical sectional view taken through another part of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the dial and operating handle.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken through the operating means.

Figllure' 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, buti s owing the parts in difierent position; an

my improved is a view in perspective of a part and yet which operates with great valve seat l lagainst minatin Figure 9. is a perspectiveview showing a preferred form of cam means for operating the device.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the sleeve and its casing. 1

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views thereof, the reference numeral 1 denotes the usual form of carburetor for a gas en inc, and 2 the manifold of such engine to w ich the carburetor. is usually directly connected, in the present instance, however, between the carburetor 1 and the manifold 2 is posi: tionedacasing' 3, the construction of which is clearly indicated. in Figure 4 ofthe drawings. This casin 3 has flan es 4; and 5 which are clampe to opposed gauges 6 and 7 respectively, upon the. carburetor and manifold, so that the casing-forms a chamber or passageway between the two last named parts, through which the explosive mixture.

Leading into the casing 3 is a laterally disposed threaded aperture 8, which is adapted to receive the threaded end 9 of a devlce 10 which will now be described- This device comprises two tubular sections 11 and 12 respectively, threaded together as at-13. The section 11 is provided with a which seats the frustroconically'formed valve 15, which valve is normally urged into engagement with its seat by means of the extensile spring 16, which seats against the valve and against the end of the section 12, said spring encircling a stem 17 attached to the valve. Formed interiorly of the section 11 is a lurality of grooves 18, said grooves exten mg longitudinally of-the section 11 from a position adjacent the valve seat 14, and terin the apertures 19 of the section 11, whic apertures extend entirely through the wall of said section.

It will be seen that when the valve 15 is in engagement with its seat 14, that the passageway through the device 10 is entirely closed, but that when the valve. is moved sli htly away from its seat, a fluid can pass t rough the passageway1 20, which leads into the device, thence t rough the grooves 18, and then through the aperture 19. Likewise when the valve is 0 en, a fluid can pass through the device in t e opposite direction.

' within thecasingl .seated between t The valve stem 17 at the end opposite to its attachment with the valve, is provided with a flange or shoulder 21, which is adapted to be engaged with a similarly formed flange or shoulder 22, formed upon one end of the rod 23, which rod is located in the section 12 of the device 10, so as to be able to be reciprocated therein, the interior of the section 10 being so constructed that the valve stem 17 may also be reciprocated therein when the rod 23 is operated to withdraw the valve from its seat, or when t-he valve 15 is operated by internal pressure; the form of connection between the valve stem 17 and the rod 3 being such as to permit of 'said last named independent operation of the valve. Moreover, the interior of the section 12 of the device 10 is such that both the valve stem and-the rod 23 are guided in their reciprocal movements.

Attached to a block 24, which is fastened to the lower end of the rod 23, as by means of the screw 25, is a wire 26, said wire extending outwardly through the end of the section 12, whence it extends to the operating device presently to be described. which is located upon the dash of the vehicle.

The wire 26 while relatively stiff is nevertheless flexible, said wire preferably extending through a flexible tube 27 made of coiled wire, one end of said tube being located nan aperture 28 provided in the lower part of the section 12, and the opposite end terminating adjacent a rod 29 forming a part. of the operatin device presently to be described, to w ich the wire 26 is attached by means of the clamp screw 30. The flexible tube 27, while forming a casing for the wire 26, also prevents any tendency of the wire to buckle when the same is reciprocated endwise to perform its functions.

The reference numeral 31 denotes a casing adapted to extend through an aperture 32 provided in the dash of the car, said casing 31 having a circular flange 33 fastened to the face of the dash, as by means of the screws 34. Said flange forms a dial, over which travels a pointer 35 integrally formed upon a lever 36, the opposite end of which is provided with an operating handle 37; The lever 36 is provided with a downwardly ex tending spring-pressed pin 38, which is adapted to operate in any one of a series of depression 39 located circumferentially upon the dial 33, which dial as shown may be calibrated as at 40.

The lever 36 is fastened to a shaft 41, which is journalled in the central portion of the flange or dial 33, said shaft being attached to a sleeve 42, rotatably mounted 31 and said sleeve being e ange or dial 33 and a block 43 threaded in thelower end of the casing 31. It will be seen that a rotated movement of the shaft 41 by the lever 36 12,-ceases when the handle 37 is manipulated, will cause a rotated-movement of the sleeve 42. The sleeve 42 is provided with a pair of inclined cam slots adapted to receive pins or studs 44 and 45, carried upon the upper end of the rod 29; the rod 29 extending through an aperture 46, provided centrally of the block 43, said rod being also provided with a key or spline 47, adapted to guide the rod and prevent any rotative movement thereof. The card slots 48 and 49 are so disposed in the sleeve 42 that when the latter is rotated, the rod 29 will be reciprocated endwise in the sleeve, thereby compelling an endwise movement of the wire 26, attached to said rod. Moreover, the cam slots 48 and 49 are so disposed in the. sleeve that a movement throu h anv arc of 180 of the pointer 35 will, t rough the rod 29 andthe wire 26 and associated parts, compel a movement of the valve 15 from its seat'to a position opposite the aperture 19 of the section 18, or assuming the valve to be opened to that position, to permit the valve to move to its seat 14.

Thus it will be seen that a movement of the handle 39 compelling a rotat-ive movement of the sleeve 42, operates to reciprocate the wire 26, which wire in turn, is adapted to withdraw the valve 13 from its seat. llt will be noted that when the valve 15 is moved from its seat a communication is established between the aperture 20 of the device 10 and the aperture 19 in the side wall of the section 11 thereof.

Referring now to the casing 3, it will be observed that the same is provided with a lateral extension 56, the same being formed integrally with said casing 3, and 51 indicatesamemberw'hich'is clamped to the part 50 as by means of the clamp screws 52. The parts 50 and 51 form a chamber 53, through which the explosive mixture passes on its way from the carburetor to the manifold, and from the air supplying device 11, the explosive mixture and the air first assing through the chamber 54 formed within the casing 3. Located within the chamber 53 is a mixing device 55, the same comprising a fan-like structure, having the blades 56 and57, said device being provided with the pintles 58 and 59, whlch rest in ball-bearings 60 and 61, the latter being carried by suitable supports-62 and 63, carried by rm 3 64 and 65, mounted within the casing. adjusting screw 66 provides asuitableadjusting means for the bearings of the pintles 58 and 59.

The blades 56 and 57 are twisted out of the plane of rotation, as shown, so that the passage of the explosive mixture through the chamber 53 will operate to rotate the mixing device 55, whereby the air and carbureted gases passing through the chamber 53 will be more'thoroughly mixed before they enter the manifold 2. 7

Having thus described the construction of lift) this embodiment'of my'invention, the operation, which should be largely -obvious, is substantially as follows:

Assuming the valve 15 to be in engage ment with its seat 14, theexplosive mixture will be supplied from the carburetor t0 the manifold through the chambers 54; and 53, the revolution of the mixing device 55' operating to further commingle said explosive mixture being discharged from the carburetor. v, The opening of the valve 15 through the rotative movement of the lever 36,by means of the handle 37 Will permit air to bedischarged .into the chamber 54, through the device 11, said air passing through the opening 19, the grooves 18, and'the passageway 20. This air will unite with the mixture bein discharged from the carburetor, and will e further commingled with said mix 'ture by the operation of the mixing device 55 as said gases pass through the chamber 53. Any desired amount of air may be admitted in this manner, or by the proper mixture,

whereby the most economical mixture may.

at all times be discharged into the manifold. of the engine.

When it is desired to utilize the devicedescribed as a brake for the car, for instance, when the ear is descending an incline, it is merely necessary to open the valve 15, whereby air will be discharged through the ape-rture 19, the passageways or grooves 18, the passageway 20, thence through the chamhere 54 and 53 of the manifold, to the cylinders of the engine, whereby the compression produced b the operation of the pistons will have a bra ing eflect upon the .car, as-

suming, of course, that theengine of the car is connected through the clutch and transmission with the road wheels of'the car. The quantity of air admitted this way, of course, determines the amount of braking eilort exerted upon the road wheels of the car.

In the event of a back-fire occurring in the engine, the excess pressure will, cause such opening of the valve 15, as will permit the escaping of the gases in a reverse direction through the device 11, the gases, course, escaping, passing through the. apparatus in the reverse'direction, and escaping'through the aperture 19 to the atmosphere.

"It will accordingly be seen that I have provided, a construction well adapted to attain, among others, each andevery object above pointed out, in an exceedingly simple" yet eficient manner, since my improved apparatus may be utilized as a gas saver, as a brake, and as a means to take care of backfire, the apparatus operating in an entirely efiicie'nt manner to accomplish these various functions. Moreover, the device may be easily manipulated from a'position at the dash of the car.

-As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the ,scope ofthe following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- ,ters Patent is: r

Ina device of the class described, in combination, a chamber mounted to form part of theintake manifold of an engine, a tubular extension'projecting from the wall of said chamber, a spring-held valve seated so as to close said extension, longitudinal channels out in the wall of said extension from a point adjacent said seat and communicating with ports through the wall of said extension, an actuating member slidable in said extension and engaging the stem of said valve, a flexible member extending from said actuating member to the dash board ofsaid vehicle and a helically slotted cylindrical 'member revolvably mounted on said dash, a pin in the end of said flexible member engaging in said slot, an indicating handle mountedon said cylindrical member and a dial associated with said handle whereby tov regulate the seating of said valve and to control the admission of air through said ex- 

